Burner control apparatus



Nov. 17, 1942. 'w'. P. GALLAGHER 2,302,624'

BURN-ER CONTROL APPARATU Filed Feb. 5, 1940 ai J7' ya A Patented Nov. 17, 1942 BURNER coNTnoL APPARATUS william P. Gauagher, Chicago, n1., assignor to 1ntei-national Register Company, Chicago, Ill.,

corporation of Illinois n Application February 5, 1940, serial No. 317,248

(C1. isi-9) 19 Claims.

The present invention relates. to burner control apparatus. The principal field of utility of the invention is in connection with gas burning cooking ranges of the type in which one of the burners, such as the oven burner, is adapted to be placed under automatic time control, but wherein a safety shut-olf feature is associated with this burner so that it cannot possibly receive gas if the pilot light associated with that burner has become extinguished. While this is the preferred field of utility, I wish it to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited thereto, but has advantageous utility in various other burner control fields as Well.

My invention enables a single control valve to be employed for the automatic time control and also for the safety shut-off control. The automatic timing mechanism can conveniently be of the same general type as is now commonly employed in time switches for electric ranges, comprising the usual synchronous motor driven clock, and the adjustable controls associated therewith which are adapted to be set by I the houswife to automatically eiect the starting and stopping of the cooking operation at preselected times. 'Ihis automatic timing mechanism is preferably arranged to actuate the aforementioned control valve through a direct acting mechanical connection. The automatic safety shut-off control-is ing opened by the automatic timing mechanism in the event that the pilot light has become extinguished. Thus, if there is no pilot flame, the automatic timer cannot open said control time at any stage of its cycle, and hence there is no possibility of filling the oven or the kitchen with gas because of the absence of a pilot light to ignite the burner. The automatic safety shut-off control is preferably of the thermocouple type operative to perform its control function on said valve through an electrical connection.

Another feature of my invention resides in the provision of improved means for disabling the operative connection between theautomatic timer and the control valve when the pilot jet or other ignition means is not operative to ignite the fuel at the burner. This disabling function is performed with respect to a motion transmitting member which normally stands in a position effective to transmit valve opening motion from the automatic timer to the control valve. In the performance of the disabling operation, this motion' transmitting member is displaced from said normal position to a safety position Where itis impossible for it totransmit opening motion to the control valve. Having been displaced to this safety or shut-on position by reason of the fact that the ignition meansv is not operative to ignite the fuel at the burner',A the motion transmitting member can only be restored to its normal motion transmitting position by the performance of a manual resetting operation. The necessity of having to perform this manual resetting operation apprises the housewife of the fact that the ignition means is not operative-to ignite the fuel. Accordingly, it is necessary that the ignition means be restored to operative condition before the motion transmitting member is restored to its operative position, but if the housewife should attempt to restore the motion transmitting member by the resetting operation the motion 'transmitting member will not remain in its reset'or restored position until the ignition means has been restored to normal condition. The foregoing features of my invention are not necessarily limited to use in a gas range', or with an automatic timer, gas pilot, thermocouple shut-olf, etc.

Another feature of the invention resides in an improved relation whereby if there should be any failure or malfunctioning, the apparatus will fail "safe, i. e. if the control valve is in the closed position it will remain in that position against accidental opening, and if the valve is in the open position it ywill immediately move to closed position and remain closed against accidental opening. o

Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detail description of one preferred embodiment thereof. In the accompanying drawing illustrating such embodiment:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational view chematically illustrating the general relation of the main parts of the apparatus;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the/.lower portion of the automatic timer andthrough the control valve structure;

Figure 3 is afragmentary transverse sectional view taken approximately on the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure 2, and illustrating the motion transmitting member in its normal or motion transmitting position; and

VFigure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the motion transmitting member displaced to its non-functioning position.

In the cooking range adaptation of my invention, the burners represents a typical oven burner or broiler burner connected to receive gas from a main supply pipe 9, but it will be understood that for other elds of utility of the invention,

other types of burners may be employed, burn-y ing gas or other fuels. Associated with the burner 8 is an ignition apparatus which preferably embodies a gas pilot jet II also arranged to receive gas from the main supply pipe 9. Other forms of ignition apparatus may be employed.

The various burners of the cooking range receive their gas from the main supply pipe 9 through individual branch pipes which branch off the main supply pipe, these branch pipes having separate manually controlled valves therein for controlling the gas flow to the separate burners. Such a branch pipe for the burner 8 is indicated at I2, and the conventional manually controlled valve interposed in this branch pipe is indicated at I4. The gas is discharged into a conventional mixing chamber or throat where it is mixed with air before emission from the apertures of the burner 8, this being conventional practice. The pilot jet II is connected with the supply pipe 8 through a branch tube I which shunts the manual valve I4. Also interposed in the branch pipe I2 is the control valve I6 which is jointly responsive to the automatic timer I 'I and to the pilot jet II. The automatic timer I'I may be any desired type of mechanism capable of causing the control valve I8 to open and close at different times preselected by the housewife. As illustrative of one preferred embodiment of timer mechanism, I have shown in general outline an automatic timing device such as is disclosed in the joint application of myself'and Alfred W. Gardes, Serial No. 319,010 -led Feb. 15, 1940, entitled Electrical timing apparatus. 'I'his unit comprises a synchronous motor driven clock including a clock dial 22, and hour and minute hands 2l and 25. Rotatable concentrically around the outside of the clock dial is a' Stop cooking ring 28, which has an index pointer adapted to be placed in registration with the different hour numerals around the clock dial, the adjustable setting given this ring determining the time when the apparatus will interrupt the cooking operation. Rotatable concentrically around the outside of the adjusting ring 28 is an arm or-other adjusting member 29,y which is adjustable to different positions to predetermine the number of hours that the cooking operation is to continue. An index pointer on this outer adjusting member 29 is adapted to be placed in registration with different hour and fractional hour markings on the adjusting ring 28, in predetermining the length of the cooking interval. This automatic timer device I1 is adapted to be placed in its normal position and in its set position through the manipulation of the control knob 33 which is secured to the front end of a control shaft 33. As fully disclosed in the aforementioned copending application, the control shaft 33 advances clockwise with a spring impelled step-by-step motion as the timer Il goes through the cyclical steps of starting the cooking operation, stopping the cooking operation, etc. In the aforementioned copending application, the control shaft 33 is arranged to actuate an electric switch through a suitable sequence of cam surfaces mounted on the shaft 33. In the adaptation of the timer to the herein disclosed burner control apparatus, the electric switch is dispensed with, and the control shaft 33 is arranged to actuate the control valve I8. Referring to Figure 2, the oscillatory control shaft 33 has a multiple-lobed cam 5I mounted thereon for actuating a bell crank device 52. This bell crank device comprises a pair of triangular plates connected together in spaced relation and pivotally 75 supporting therebetween a roller 53 which bears against the periphery of the cam 5I. The bell crank assembly has rockable mounting on a stationary pivot pin 54 which has fixed mounting on a bracket or frame member 55 constituting part of the frame of the timer I1. A pivot pin 56 at the other corner oi the bell crank assembly establishes pivotal connection with the upper end of an actuating rod or link 51 which extends downwardly through a guide opening 58 in the bracket 55, and also down through an opening in the housing 2i of the automatic timer mechanism Il. Downward motion of the actuating link 5l is adapted to open the control valve I6, which will now be described.

This control valve unit I6 comprises a housing 6I which is supported in proximity to the timing mechanism I1, preferably directly below the actuating rod 5l. A mounting 111g 62 extends upwardly from the housing il for attachment to a supporting lug or bracket 63 projecting downwardly from the timer unit. A pair of spaced screws 64 pass through vertical slots 65 formed in the lug 68, and screw into tapped holes in the lug 82. The provision of the slots 65 enables the housing 6| to be adjusted upwardly or downwardly relatively to the timer unit I'I when the screws 8l are loosened.

Mounted for vertical reciprocation in the housing BI is the motion transmitting member 61, which is normally operative to transmitv motion from the actuating link 5l to the stem 68 of the control valve.. The motion transmitting member comprises the main rod G1 which has a threaded upper end screwing into a thimble 61a adapted to be locked in any adjusted position on the rod 81 by the check nut 81h, such adjustment enabling the effective length of the motion transmitting member to be varied. A conical head B'Ic is secured to the lower end of the rod 81 and is adapted to have thrusting engagement against the upper end of the valve stem 88. I'he upper end of the motion transmitting member has loosely guided support within a guide opening 88 formed in the upper wall of the housing 6I, this opening being sumciently large to enable the motion transmitting member to assume the cocked or disabled position illustrated in Figure 4. The actuating link 51 is adapted to exert downward thrust against the upper end of the thimble portion 61a, this end of the thimble being rounded so that in the event that the actuating link .51 is transmitting downward pressure against the thimble at the time a safety shut-off function occurs, this downward pressure will not hinder the lateral displacement of the motion transmitter 81.

The lateral displacement of the transmitting member 81, for performing an automatic shutoil?, is effected through the medium of a shifter member 'II mounted for horizontal reciprocation within the housing Il, As shown in transverse section in Figure 2, this shifter member is preferably in the form of .a at bar or strip having an opening 12 therein through which the motion transmitting rod 81 passes with a relatively loose fit. A compression spring 13 is confined between the upper side of the shifter bar II and the check nut 81h, this spring normally thrusting the transmitter member and the actuating link 5l upwardly and holding the roller 53 pressed against the cam 5I. Secured to the front end of the shifter bar is a resetting button 'I4 which extends outwardly through a guide opening in the front wall of the housing 6I, this resetting button being disposed in such location as to be conveniently accessible for the purpose of resetting the motion transmitting member 61 to its normal upright position, following any shut-off operation.

The rear end of the shifter bar 1I extends through a guide opening formed in the vertical Wall of a' supplementaryl housing 16. This supplementary'housing is preferably formed as a separate unit adapted for attachment to the open back of the housing 6I, although it will be understood that it may be formed `as an integral part of the housing 6I. A cover plate 11 closes the back of the housing 16. A compression spring 18 surrounds the shifter bar 1I, the front end of this spring bearing against a washer 19 which is pinned or otherwise secured to the shifter bar, and the rear end of the spring bearing against the Jwasher 8| which abuts the housing wall 16. This spring normally tends to thrust the shifter member forwardly for moving the motion transmitting member 61 to the disabled position shown in Figure 4. Such tendency of the spring is opposed by the magnetic attraction lof an electromagnet 83 which is secured to the backcover plate 11 and which acts on a magnetic armature disk 84 secured to the end of the shifter bar. The windings 85 on the legs of the electromagnet 83 are connected through conductors 86 with a thermocouple 81 which is disposed in such position as to have its hot junction vheated by the iiame issuing from;r the pilot jet Il. The

form and mounting of this thermocouple are only illustrated diagrammatically, such devices being well known in the art for shut-offv control purposes. So-long as the thermocouple is maintained heated by the pilot iiame, a current generated thereby is caused to circulate through the electromagnet windings 85 for holding the armature 86 against the pole extremities of the eleci tromagnet. In this position of the shifter member 1I, the motion transmitting member 61 is maintained in vertical alignment with the upper end of the valve stem 68. As shown in Figure 2, the stem 68 is operative to actuate a valve 88 enclosed within a valve housing 89 disposed below the housing 6I; The housing 89 may be formed as an integral part of the housing 6I, if desired. The Valve structure per se. is not of the essence of the invention, since various types of valve structures maybe employed. However, for the purposeseof the present disclosure, it may be stated lthat the valve 88 is normally urged upwardly by compression spring 9| into engagement with the valve iport 92. This valve port i`s locatedin a partition wall 93 which divides the inlet chamber 94 from the outlet chamber 95, A light spring 98 surrounding the stem.'68 above the valve 88 .maintains a gland packing 9.1 pressed about the stem, this glandlpacking being contained within a packing nut 98 screwing down into the top of the housing 8,9. Contiguous sections 'of the branch pipe I2 communicate with the inlet and outlet chambers 94 and 95 of the valve housing. Ifdesired, the housings 6I, 16 and 89, and the pipe connections I2, may be concealed behind any suitable trim plate 99 extending downwardly from the timer unit I1,` the i reset button 14 projecting through an opening in this trim plate so as tobe accessible at all times.

The cam .5I has three lobes 5Ia, 5Ib and 5Ic, between which are the two valleys or depressions Bld and 5Ie. Only two lobes function, the symmetrical three-lobed construction being employed 33' is in the "set position illustrated in Figure 1, the cam 5I is in the position illustrated in Figure 2, with the depression 5Id 'receiving the roller 53. In this position of the bell crank lever 52, the actuating link 51 and motion transmitting member 61 are held in their raised positions by the pressure of the spring 13, as shown in full lines in Figures 2 and '3.' When the time arrives for the cooking operation to start, as predetermined by the setting of the adjustable member 29, the cam 5I is quickly oscillated through one step of advancement, which brings the cam lobe 5Ib under the roller 53 (also moving the control knob 33 to the intermediate on position between the*` vfset and o positions). lThe resulting downward thrust imparted to the actu-'- ating link 51 is transmitted through the motion transmitting member 61, to move the latter down to the dotted line position illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. such dotted line position depressing the valve'stem 68 and opening the valve 88. The manually actuated valve I4 having been moved to open position as a preparatory step in the setting of ,the timing mechanism I1, it will be obvious that the opening of the control valve 88 will allow gas to flow directly to the burner 8 for ignition by the flame issuing from the pilot jet II. At the hour predetermined for stopping the cooking operation (shown by the position of the adjustable member 28 as-being six oclock), the cam 5I will quickly oscillate another step of advancement in a clockwise direction, bringing the depression 5Ie into position to receive the roller 53. Ihis permits the valve 88 and the interposed y 5I, all as disclosed in the aforementioned copending application. When the timer arrives in the ofi position 4last mentioned, the continued illumination of the pilot light 42 indicates to the housewife that even though the cooking operation has ceased the timer is still in control of the burner in the sense that it is maintaining the control valve I6 closed, and hence manual operation of the burner under control of the manual valve I4 cannot occur until after control valve I6 has been opened. To bring this about, the housewife depresses a plunger button 38 which projects axially from the control knob 33', this actuation of the plunger button tripping the control shaft 33 for producing another and final step of advancement of the cam. 5I in its clockwise direction of motion. This iinal step of oscillatory movement brings the cam lobe 5Ic f under the roller 53, thereby thrusting the actuautomatic timer does not have control of the burner 8. When it is again desired to place the burner under the control of the automatic timer to monitore assembly. when thewontroi -knob 75,11, the control knob u' and shaft 33 are rotated back in a counterclockwise direction to re'store the parts to the se position, illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, with the recess 5|d of the cam under the roller 53.

Referring more specifically to the safety shutolf function, it will be understood that if the pilot flame should be blown out or fail for any other reason while the motion transmitting member 81 is in the raised full line position shown, the deenergization oi the electromagnet 83 and release of the armature 84 will permit the motion transmitting member 61 to be shifted to the disabled position illustrated in Figure 4, under the energy of the spring 18. Once the motion transmitting member has been tripped into this disabled position, it will remain in that position until the manual resetting operation is performed by depressing the button 14 So long as the motion transmitting member remains in this disabled position, any and all downward thrusting movements of the actuating link 51 are utterly unable to depress the valve stem 68 for opening the valve 88. Figure 4 illustrates how downward movement imparted to the motion transmitting member 61 is not effective on the valve stem when the motion transmitting member is in its tripped position. The apparatus is also preferably constructed so that if the pilot flame should be blown out -or fail for any other reason While the burner 8 is in operation, the safety shut-off will nevertheless be tripped for interrupting the further supply of gas to the burner 8. The contacting surfaces of the conical head 61e and of the valve stem 68 are constructed to offer very low friction against lateral displacement, and the spring 18 is of Sufficient strength to cause this displacement upon release of the armature 84, even though the conical head 61e is being held down against the valve stem 68 in the operation of holding the valve 88 in its open position. Hence, this valve is tripped to its shut-off position in the event that the pilot should be extinguished while the main burner 8 is in operation. This avoids the hazardous condition which might arise if a sudden draught of air should blow out both the main burner 8 and the pilot jet ii, and the control valve should remain in open position, continuing to supply gas to the burner 8. When the safety shut-off occurs under either of the above described conditions, the movement of the resetting button 14 to the out- Ward position, prominently projecting from the front of the wall 89, serves to apprise the housewife that the automatic shut-off function has occurred, and that the pilot jet should be reignited before further use of the burner 8 can take place. It will also be noted that it is compulsory that the pilot be reignited before resetting can take place, because if the resetting button 14 is depressed in an attempted resetting operation before the pilot is reignited, the button 14 will not remain in its retracted position because the electromagnet 83 is not being energized from the thermocouple 81.

In all functioning of the apparatus, the automatic valve i6 is either entirely open or entirely closed, the size of the flame at the main burner 8 during the interval that the burner is under the control of the automatic valve I8 being dependent upon a preselected adjustment previously given the manual valve I 4.

The apparatus is so constructed and arranged that in the event of breakage of parts, interruption of the circuit 88, or other circumstance caus- `ing the apparatus to fail to function, therewill be an inherent tendency for the apparatus to fail safe, i. e. for the failure of the apparatus to result in the closing of the valve 88. It will be obvious that breakage of the thermocouple, or of the circuit 88, or ofthe windings 85, will result in the valve 88 immediately moving to closed position. The inherent tendency of the springs 13, 18 and 9| is also to move the valve 88 to closed position in the event of breakage of parts.

While I have illustrated and described what I regard to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, nevertheless it will be understood that such is merely exemplary and that numerous modifications and rearrangements may be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention.

I claim:

l. A gas burner control apparatus comprising a main gas supply pipe for connection with said burner, a valve in said supply pipe tending to remain closed, a time controlled mechanism associated with said valve for opening the same, a motion transmitting member operative by endwise reciprocation to transmit actuating motion from said time controlled mechanism to said valve, a pilot burner fed from said supply pipe, and means associated with said pilot burner for preventing said motion transmitting member transmitting endwise reciprocation between said time controlled mechanism and said valve when said pilot burner is extinguished.

2. In burner` control apparatus, the combination with a burner, of an automatic timer for governing said burner, ignition apparatus for igniting the fuel at said burner, a single valve jointly responsive to said automatic timer and to said ignition apparatus, said valve governing the flow of fuel to said burner, a motion transmitting member responsive to said timer and operative by reciprocating motion to eiect the operation of said valve at a predetermined time, and means responsive to said ignition apparatus for rendering said motion transmitting member inoperative to transmit reciprocatory motion to said valve to prevent the flow of fuel to the burner in the event said ignition apparatus is not operative to ignite the fuel.

3. In burner control apparatus, the combination with a burner and a pilot ,iet associated therewith, of a control valve governing the flow of fuel to said burner, mechanism for operating said valve comprising a motion transmitting member having a iirst position where it is .capable of transmitting motion to said valve and a second position where it is incapable of transmitting motion to said valve, means tending to shift said motion transmitting member into said second position, an electromagnet normally acting in opposition to said latter means, a thermocouple responsive to said pilot jet for energizing said electromagnet, and resetting means for manually shifting said motion transmitting member from said second position back to said first position.

4. In burner control apparatus, the combination with a burner and a pilot ,iet associated therewith, of a control valve governing the flow of fuel to said burner, mechanism for operating said valve comprising a thrusting member and a motion transmitting member, said motion transmitting member having a normal position where it is capable of transmitting thrusting motion from said thrusting member to said valve, and having a disabled position where it is incapable of transmitting thrusting motion from said thrustto shift said motion transmitting membery from said normal position to said disabled position, an electromagnet normally holding said member in said normal. position, and a thermocouple re- 'sponsive' to said pilot jet for energizing said electromagnet. Y

'5..iln burner control apparatus, the combination with a burner and a pilot jet associated therewith, of a control valve governing the flow of fuel to'said burner, an automatic timer for operating said valve comprising an adjustable member for adjustably predetermining the 'time when said control valve is to be operated, a thrusting element having reciprocable motion imparted thereto by said automatic timer, a motion transmitting member vfor transmitting shifting motion along a predetermined path from the thrusting element of said automatic timer to said control valve, and safety shut-off means responsive to said pilot vjet for laterally displacing said motion transmitting member from said predetermined path so as to be inoperative to actuate said valve.

6. In burner control apparatufafthe combination with a burner and a pilitassociated therewith, of a control Valve governing the ow lof fuel to said burner, an/eautomatic timer for operating saidy valve comprising two relatively adjustable members for predetermining the time of opening and the timewof closing of said valve, a motion transmitting ni'mber for transmitting operating motion from said automatic timer to said valve, said motion transmitting member having a normal position where it is capable of transmitting motionto said valve and an abnormal position where it is incapable of transmitting motion to said valve; an electromagnet normally tending to hold said motion transmitting member in said normaly position, a thermocouple responsive to said pilot jet f or energizing said electromagnet, and spring means tending to shift said motion transmitting member to said abnormal n position in the event of the deenergization of said electromagnet.

7. In burner control apparatus, the combination with a burner and a pilot jet associated therewith, of a control valve governing the flow of fuel to said burner,automatic timing mechanism comprising a timeftripped cam formed with a plurality of cam lobes, a bell crank lever re-- sponsive to said cam lobes, a reciprocable actuating link operated by said bell crank lever, a motion transmitting member for transmitting motion from said actuating link to said control valve, said motion transmitting member having a normal position where it is capable of transmitting motion to said valve, and an abnormal position where it is incapable of transmitting motion to said valve, an electromagnet for holding said motion transmitting member in said normal position, a thermocouple responsive to said pilot jet for energizing said electromagnet, and spring means for shifting said motion transmitting member to said abnormal position upon deenergization of said electromagnet.

8. In burner control apparatus, the combination with a burner and a pilot jet associated therewith, of a control valve governing the flow of fuel to said burner, automatic timing mechanism for operating said valve comprising a thrusting element, a reciprocable motion transmitting member for transmitting thrusting motion from said thrusting element to saidvalve, a shifter bar having guiding coaction with said motion' transmitting member, said shifter bar 253023215 i'ng member to said valve, spring means tending being operable to deflect said motion transmitting member t'o an abnormal position where it is incapable of transmitting thrusting `friction to said valve and is incapable of holding said valve 5 open, spring means tending to shift said shifter harto said latter position, an electromagnet acting, in opposition to said spring means, and a thermocouple responsive to said pilot jet for energizing said electromagnet.

9. In burner control apparatus, the combination with a burner'and a pilot jet associated therewith, of a control valve governing the flow l of fuel to said burner, automatic timing mechanism for operating said valve comprising a thrusting elementpa reciprocable motion transmitting rod for transmitting thrusting motion from said thrusting element to said valve, a shifter bar having motion substantially at right angles to the reciprocable motion of said rod, said' 'rod having guided engagement within an aperture in said shifter bar, said shifter bar being operable to cock said motion transmitting rod to an inclined position `where it is incapable of transmitting motion to said valve and is incapable of holding said valve open, spring means acting on said shifter bar tending to move the latter to said latter position, an electromagnet acting on said shifter bar kin opposition to the action of said spring means, and a thermocouple responsive to said pilot jet for normally energizing said electromagnet.

10. In burner control apparatus, the combina- -tion of a burner and a pilot jet associated therewith, of a control valve governing the ow of fuel to. said burner, automatic timer mechanism for controlling the time of opening or closing of said valve, a thrusting element actuated thereby and having a substantially rectilinear motion, a motion transmitting member responding to said thrusting element and operable thereby to have endwise reciprocatory motion along a first path, or to have endwiseKreciprocatory motion along a second pathv displaced laterally from said rst A patins-'said ymotion transmitting member being 45eifective to operate said control valve when moving along said first path and being non-eifective to operate said valve when moving along said *v second path, spring means normally tending to displace said motion transmitting member from said rst path to said second path, electrically energized means responsive to said pilot jet normally opposing said spring means but permitting said spring means to shift said motion transmitting member to s'ad second path upon failure 'of said pilot jet, and manually actuated reset means for resetting said motion transmitting member back to said first path after the pilot jet has been re-ignited.

1l. In burner control apparatus, the combination of a burner and a pilot jet associated therewith, of a control valve governing the flow of fuel to said burner, mechanism for operating said valve comprising a thrusting element, a motion. transmitting member responding to said thrusting element and operable thereby to have endwise reciprocatory motion along a predetermined path, and also capable of being displaced to another position spaced substantially laterally from said predetermined path, said motion transmitting valve when moving along said predetermined path, and being non-effective to operate said valve when displaced laterally i,to said other position, and means responsive to said pilot Jet for displacing said motionl transmitting member to member being effective to operate said control said other position upon failure of said pilot jet.

12. In valve control apparatus, the combination with a valve, automatic valve actuating means. motiontransmitting means eifective to open and close said valve under the control of said automatic valve actuating means, means for rendering said motion transmitting means ineffective to open said valve, and cooking means movable to cause said motion transmitting means to be set, by movement of said motion transmitting means, in position where it is effective to open and close said valve under the control of said automatic Valve actuating means.

13. In burner control apparatus, the combination with a burner and ignition means associatedtherewith for igniting the fuel at the burner, of a control valve governing the flow of fuel to said burner, an electric motor driven automatic timer,

motion transmitting means for transmitting operation motion from said timer to said valve, and" safety mechanism cooperating therewith cornprising spring means normally tending to move said motion transmitting means to an inoperative position, electromagnetic means opposing the action of said spring means, and a thermocouple4 responsive to said ignition means for energizing said electromagnetic means, whereby said safety mechanism is operative to prevent said automatic timer from moving said control valve to open position in the event that said ignition means termining the time of opening and the time of;

closing of said valve, actuating means for enabling said automatic timer to actuate said control valve, and safety mechanism cooperating therewith comprising disabling means tending to render said actuating means inoperative, electrically responsive means for opposing the action or' said disabling means, and means for generating electrical current in response to heat from said pilot jet for energizing said electrically responsive means, whereby said safety mechanism is operative to prevent said control valve being opened by said automatic timer in the event that said pilot jet has become extinguished, independently of any interruption of the motor driven operation of said timer.

15. In valve control apparatus, the combination with a valve, of automatic valve actuating means, motion transmitting means eective to actuate said valve under the control of said automatic valve actuating means, disabling means tending to render said motion transmitting means inefiective to actuate said valve, electrically energized means acting in oppositoin to said disabling means, and cocking means movable to cause said motion transmitting means to be set, by movement of said motion transmitting means, in positlonwhere it is effective to actuate said valve under the control of said automatic valve actuating means.

16. In burner control apparatus, the combination with a burner and a pilot jet associated therewith, of a control valve governing the ow of fuel to said burner, automatic timer mechanism ior operating said valve, motion transmitting means effective to operate said valve under the control'of said automatic timer mechanism, said motion transmitting means tending to move to an inoperative position where it would be ineffective to operate said valve, electrically energized means responsive to the presence of a fiame at said pilot jet for normally holdingv said motion transmitting means in an operative position where it is effective to operate said valve, and cooking means movable to cause said motion transmitting means to be set, by movement of said motion transmitting means, in said operative position where it is eiective to operate said valve under the control of said automatic timer mechanism.

17. In burner control apparatus, the combination with a burner and ignition means associated therewith for igniting the fuel at the burner, of a control valve governing the flow of fuel to said burner, automatic timer mechanism for operating said valve, motion transmitting means effective to operate said valve underthe control of said automatic timer mechanism, means governed by said ignition means for rendering said motion transmitting means ineifective to operate said valve in the event that said ignition means becomes inoperative to ignite the fuel, and cooking means movable to cause said motion transmitting means to be set, by movement of said motion transmitting means, in position where it is eii'ective to operate said valve under the control of said automatic timer mechanism.

18. In burner control apparatus, the combination with a burner and ignition means associated therewith for igniting the fuel at the burner, of a control valve governing the iiow of fuel to said burner, automatic timer mechanism for operating said valve, actuating means for enabling said automatic timer mechanism to actuate said valve, said actuating means tending constantly to assume an inoperative condition in which it is inoperative to actuate said valve, electrical means responsive to said ignition means for maintaining said actuating means inan operative condition in which it is operative to actuate said valve so long, and only so long, as said ignition means is operative to ignite the fuel, and resetting means for restoring said actuating means from said inoperative position to said operative condition.

19. In burner control apparatus, the combination with a burner and ignition means associated therewith for igniting the fuel at the burner, of a control valve governing the iiow of fuel to said burner, automatic timer mechanism for operating said valve, actuating means for enabling said automatic timer mechanism to actuate said valve,` said actuating means tending constantly'` to assume an inoperative condition in which it is inoperative to actuate said valve, and electrically energized means responsive to said ignition means for maintaining said actuating means in an operative condition in which it is operative to actuate said valve so long, and only so long, as said ignition means is operative to ignite the fuel.

WILLIAM P. GALLAGHER. 

